Can one person truly make such an impact that it changes everything for an entire family tree? I believe this is possible. Sometimes people get so hung up on the circumstances they face that it almost paralyzes them, thus they can’t see far enough ahead to make their move. It’s like a quote I saw on the Mike Dooley page on Facebook, “Be the shift you want to make“. Here’s a few reason for why I believe that one person can change everything.

Why is it then that we do get caught up or hung up in life’s circumstances? Failure to believe? Failure to allow feelings to pass through? Failure? Fear? Stay with me, I know this may seem really negative by the world’s standards. There is so much value in Failure and Fear. Yet often we don’t stick around long enough to let them play out to reap the benefits of the growth that generally comes as the result of the scary things that we face.

Our human condition has become, if it doesn’t feel good or look good, bail out, jump ship, run. Albeit running is good sometimes. For example, if someone is trying to break up your marriage or you could be in real danger, harm or facing jail time if you step into a circumstance, those are all great reasons to run the other way and head for cover. What I would like to explore with you is the feeling of wanting to leave an uncomfortable situation that challenges you for growth.

Often time when working with clients, corporate or personal, when faced with situations that they have something to lose, all of a sudden fear and failure are ever present. How would you face a situation that challenges you if you knew that regardless the outcome you would come out a winner? Personally, I think it would change a lot. I’d have a lot more confidence and motivation to move forward in the darkness.

Isn’t that the whole point of life? To move forward, to try new things and to face our fears and understand that failure is one of life’s best teachers. I don’t know about you but trying new things, facing my fears and taking time to sort out the messiness of my failures have gotten me to where I am today. I’m not sure that I’d be able to do what I do without them. Which brings me back to legacy.

It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, who your family is or isn’t, what pedigree you may have, where or if you went to college. What matters is your heart. Are you tuned in? When you clear out all of the mental clutter, what remains? When the labels are stopped away, who stares back at you in the mirror? YOU. You are perfectly equipped to change legacy for you. This is the first stone in the water that creates the ripple that speaks out from bank to bank. Get comfortable with you. Once you do you will see that your career begins to feel better, your family life settles down, you receive fulfillment from everywhere.

Perhaps you are wondering how to do this? No worries, you’re not alone. None of us really has our shit together, it’s an epic journey that we all learn as we go. The first step is to become aware that you have desires and dreams. When you place them, ultimately, you on your priority list, things will begin to improve. Check out some of the offerings on my events page or sign up for a discovery session with me. What new adventures are you ready to embark? How will you change your legacy by simply becoming curious again?

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you could see it, taste, feel it but there was something that seemed to be standing in your way of actually achieving it? I have, and I’d like to tell you a brief story about my friend, let’s call her Danni, who figured out how to get over this road block.

Danni is an accomplished woman. Anyone who knows her would describe Danni as a thoughtful, caring, compassionate woman who would give you the shirt off her back if she felt that you needed it more than she did. I’m guessing you may be or have a friend like her. One evening we were at a local restaurant, sitting by the fire, sharing a bottle of wine and catching up as old friends do. During the course of our conversation, I noticed that she didn’t seem to have any drive or passion in the way she was talking about her life. I asked her if she was ok and her reply, “I’m exhausted!”

In that moment, she had finally said something real. I could tell that there was a part of her that was relieved, yet scared that she had admitted something that she hadn’t allowed herself to share with anyone else. Reassuring her, that it was ok, we took the opportunity to explore what was happening behind the scenes that she wasn’t acknowledging.

When I first met Danni, she had so much passion and determination to make a difference in the world. While she always struggled with taking time for herself over others, there still was a drive to do something spectacular with her life. I asked her what happened to that drive. Her response, was no surprise to me, though a welcome reminder.

Tears streaming down her face, her voice a little shaky, the words, “I lost my passion.”. Passing a tissue across the table and grabbing her hand, I smiled at her and said, “Let’s go find it.” She looked at me, smiled back and asked, “How?”.

How is a great place to begin if you have lost your passion. Sometimes we are so focused on a goal, dream or desire that we forget to let go and allow the path to come to us. We are out in the world with a fierce effort to make something happen that we actually strangle our own dreams. Which can lead to a downward spiral that gets us absolutely nowhere.

After exploring Danni’s situation further, I learned that she had always wanted to do something that allowed her to share her care and compassion with others. She was going through the motions as if she wanted to move forward. Yet, found that when it came down to making decisions that would move her in the direction of her desires, and standing up for her self; she felt paralyzed. Thus she did nothing but repeat the cycle. Feeling completely overwhelmed, unworthy, and defeated. I shared these few steps with her to help her along on her path to a life that honors her, her dreams and provides fulfillment.

Take action. Though it may sound simple or terrifying, if you want to manifest any change in your life, you must do something and do something different.

Work hard and let go. You may not have the foggiest idea how to get from point A to point B to see your dream become a reality, but that doesn’t have to stop you from working hard. If you desire to write a book, take classes and learn how to write a book, if you want to be the best guitar player, study and do what you can. You don’t have to have all the pieces, connection or information in place to move forward. Simply be the best you can in this moment and let the rest come to you.

Gain Perspective. Over and over again I see people putting other’s needs, dreams and desires before their own. This is a Biblical principal, it is good but in our humanness we muck it up. Think of it this way, if we alway, key word always, put other people before ourselves, drop everything when someone asks for a favor, what message are we sending them? Sometimes we need to put our own needs first. If we don’t, we find ourselves in Danni’s situation, completely lost and exhausted. Remember to pamper yourself from time to time, meditate, read, learn, and relax.

Have Faith. When you have no clue what the next step is, have faith that you have done everything in your power to be your best. Sometimes we hold on so tight that we don’t allow anything new to come into existence. When you know that you have given 100% and are all in, we must create space for faith. If you think you will have everything perfect and know all the answers, scenarios then you aren’t open to the creativity and mystery of life. Chill out and have faith that if a desire or dream was planed in your heart than it will happen at the exact right time.

Ask for help when needed. The only reason this one is difficult for people is due to their ego and pride. Let’s be honest, we all have each of those things. As humans we require some community. Put your ego aside and ask for help when you are stuck, have exhausted all other resources and need assistance. We weren’t meant to travel the road of life alone. We need people and their experiences, they need us too. It’s not a sign of weakness, and no one expects us to have all the answers. Like Danni, when we are honest with ourselves and have tried to move forward but get stuck, that’s when we can ask for help.

A few weeks after Danni and I got together she called me, very excited to tell me that she was back on track. She had been taking time for herself, which meant she had to say no to people more than she liked, but the result was totally worth it. The sound of her voice was full of energy and passion again. She told me that while she hadn’t quite figured out her next step yet, she was taking time to explore lots of options and felt clearer and clearer each day. She thanked me for taking the time to have a real conversation with her and that she couldn’t wait for our next hangout.

What are you facing today? Are you strangling your dreams? Are you leaving room for the creativity and mystery of life to come into your world? Do you constantly overthink, over plan and find yourself feeling unaccomplished at that end of the day? Perhaps you could pull out that old journal that you haven’t touched in ages, and begin keeping track of what is working and what isn’t as well as what action you took that day to move toward your dreams. If you are brave enough to take on this challenge please share your comments, experiences and advice below. I love hearing from you.

Let me ask you this, what imprint are you making in the world? Imagine this, you are juggling many different hats, tasks, and responsibilities,yet you decide to make time to drive 20 miles to a support group that has a very empowering focus and you support the movement. So much that you are going there to drop off a check from an event you hosted to raise money so they can continue the work with ease. After you drop off the check, you are ready to put it in the books and move on. When a stranger stops you on your way back to your car to say thank you. She wants you to know that if it were not for random acts of courage, she and her 3 year old daughter, would not have the sense of hope that they do. Wait, what? Let’s take a moment to pause and reframe.

Yeah that happened. Here’s what you don’t know. The last few weeks have been really challenging. I’ve been stretched in ways I didn’t know were possible and awakened a new awareness in me that I didn’t even know was happening at the time. While I was really excited to have hosted a successful event, to raise an awareness, money and share stories of encouragement, enlightenment and hope with others; truth is I when I added up the numbers I didn’t feel like it was enough. In comparison to the last event I hosted for this group our success doubled in almost every area, yet I was feeling somewhat inadequate.

Why? Deep inside I know I can do better and I know that the event can serve so many more. I know it’s good, really good. Yet I keep getting in my own way allowing my own insecurities to keep me from reaching the greater good. That’s not to say we didn’t do a good thing, we did. Yet deep inside I felt like a failure. Handing over the money, and I sat on it for 2 months, made me acknowledge that feeling. Then someone who doesn’t even know me, came up to me out of the blue to thank me. ME. Unbelievable. Talk about a mind-shift. In that moment, she left her imprint on me. Reminding me that I am enough and my efforts, when in love, reach further than anything else I could say or do. I gave her a hug, and softly whispered, “thank you.“.

Exactly one day later I made time to read a book that had been sitting on my shelf for two weeks. Normally, it would likely collect dust before I made time to read it. Truthfully I was curious. The name of the book, “Money is Love”. Handing off the check, provided a sense of relief, some fear of not being enough, seeing the money leave my bank account also brought up some fear. Then this woman out of nowhere comes to me. Honestly, I don’t even know if she knew who I was, for all I know she was an angel sent to remind me about the imprint we leave on others. How we share our energy and send our love into the world.

“We receive when we are open to the things/people that come into our consciousness, when we are ready for the growth.”

I’ve not had the greatest track record with money. Like many Americans, it holds little value to me with a lot of power. So here I am reading about the concept of Money is Love. Reading this book was exactly what I needed to see what I already knew in my heart. To reframe my perspective and to cleanse the old to make room for the new. While I’m not going to go into the details of the book, (you can find it on amazon here) It was exactly what I needed in the moment. That’s how God/The Universe, what ever or whom ever you believe, works. We receive when we are open to the things/people that come into our consciousness, when we are ready for the growth.

Looking back, I can see that my attitude toward the event and the fundraising was not what it will be on the next go around. Deep inside I know that it’s not about the number of people who come, the amount we raise but that we are sending love into the world and making every moment better, beginning today. I have the utmost gratitude for all those who have supported me, the cause, the people who came and the ones who contributed, time talent and money.

“Love casts out fear.”

I don’t know what you may be facing today. I do know this, ‘love casts out fear‘ and love is the greatest of all the spiritual gifts. While it is challenging, it feels better to love then to fear. In the moments when life counts, we can choose fear or courage. Courage comes from the latin root word for heart, and heart is where we often feel love. Go in love and choose to send it into the world, beginning at home. And that my friend, is the imprint of you.